Help Close to purchasing a GSIII, but some concerns

Bearcats · Oct 19, 2012

I currently own an HTC Incredible 1. Its seems very interwoven with Google (which I personally am ok with/like). Heck it even has Google stamped on the back of the phone case. But I am worried that a lot of the feature I enjoy are not usuable and are strictly tied to the Incredible/HTC versus the Android platform.

However its time to upgrade and the GSIII has caught my fancy however I have some concerns reading a bunch of threads.

1) I have a sound bite of my son announcing a text has arrived (Text Dada). Can you not customize sound easily for ringtones and such? On the Incredible I just save a sound file in a specific folder and I can select it as my notification sound. Trivial I know, but there are reasons I want to keep this type of a feature.

2) I have saved all my contacts to Google (versus on phone memory/SIM card). Will I be able to associate my phone to my Google account and have all that functionality of contacts, pictures and so forth come forward? With my Incredible I had to associate/create a gmail account.

3) Is the Google mail the primary point of email or is it no different than Yahoo or Hotmail. Meaning: On my Incredible, Google is the primary app and pushes my email to my phone where Yahoo and Hotmail can only go out at a specified interval and get email. The application suite around Google mail is also much more robust compared to the "regular" email interface I have to use to connect to other non-Google email accounts.

4) How easy is it to customize the locked home screen to put one touch usable widgets? Is there only a subset you can choose from or can anything that is an app on the phone be put there?

Thanks for any input or direction in this matter...

-Bearcats

steveu694 · Oct 19, 2012

Everything is possible stock with the GS3. If you download nova launcher you can even have your phone look exactly like HTC sense if you prefer.

Papadroid · Oct 19, 2012

Questions 1-3 will be exactly the same it is now on your incredible. Question 4: There are no widgets on the lockscreen. If you mean the 4 shortcuts, then yes those 4 shortcuts can be any app on the phone.

clitrenta · Oct 19, 2012

Every Android phone is designed to work around GMAIL and is optimized for that. It is essentially the same as what you are used to. As for ringtones, simply record something with the voice recorder and when you go to look for the "ringtone", choose "Go To My Files" and look in the SOUNDS folder. You can choose it from there. That simple. When you first turn on the phone, you will login to your existing GMAIL account and once you do, your contacts should start coming over, complete with pictures. Add addtional accounts from settings. As for the lock screen, I can't really say because that is one area I don't really get into. Just never had the desire. The only difference in using the OS on these phones will be whatever Samsung vs HTC have added. I would highly recommend going to your carriers web site and downloading the PDF Manual for this phone. There are just way to many settings and not everything is intuitive unless you're used to really digging into every nook and cranny on the thing.

Bearcats · Oct 19, 2012

Thanks for the feedback folks, makes me feel more at ease. I got to go to a Verizon store at lunch and play with it for a little bit unsupervised.

I will have to look further into the Nova Launcher. Does it just make it look like Sense or is the configuration functionality similar as that would help with my text window complaint below.

I have already discovered I will need to download a better browser (no pinch screen ability and even with that big screen I need to be able to zoom in and have the text adjust and wrap as well as it does on my Incredible) and I really really hate the text interface. That bubble *ahem* needs to go...I hate it on the iPhone which is why its not even in the running.

I also have to see if I can get the Google schedule on it as well. My work uses the Google system as their primary email/scheduler and the notification/alert that pops up is vital to me.

Thanks again!
-Bearcats

Mar · Oct 19, 2012

Bearcats said:
Thanks for the feedback folks, makes me feel more at ease. I got to go to a Verizon store at lunch and play with it for a little bit unsupervised.

I will have to look further into the Nova Launcher. Does it just make it look like Sense or is the configuration functionality similar as that would help with my text window complaint below.

I have already discovered I will need to download a better browser (no pinch screen ability and even with that big screen I need to be able to zoom in and have the text adjust and wrap as well as it does on my Incredible) and I really really hate the text interface. That bubble *ahem* needs to go...I hate it on the iPhone which is why its not even in the running.

I also have to see if I can get the Google schedule on it as well. My work uses the Google system as their primary email/scheduler and the notification/alert that pops up is vital to me.

Thanks again!
-Bearcats

I've found that you can have push hotmail on the S3 as well. I used to have it every 10 minutes on my HTC but the S3 allows push with hotmail which i found a pleasant surprise

13ilgal · Oct 19, 2012

You can customize how the text messages display - there are a series of different bubbles (but, yes, they are all bubbles).

Bearcats · Oct 19, 2012

Been doing a lot of reading this afternoon while compiling my code.

I have the necessary "nudges" to just take the plunge. Its not going to be 100% identical but its seems like all the same functionality is there plus I get a bigger better phone that is actually fairly current!

Thanks for the input and help folks and once it arrives I hope to be a contributor!

Stuntman · Oct 19, 2012

Bearcats said:
1) I have a sound bite of my son announcing a text has arrived (Text Dada). Can you not customize sound easily for ringtones and such? On the Incredible I just save a sound file in a specific folder and I can select it as my notification sound. Trivial I know, but there are reasons I want to keep this type of a feature.

Yes.

2) I have saved all my contacts to Google (versus on phone memory/SIM card). Will I be able to associate my phone to my Google account and have all that functionality of contacts, pictures and so forth come forward? With my Incredible I had to associate/create a gmail account.

Yes.

3) Is the Google mail the primary point of email or is it no different than Yahoo or Hotmail. Meaning: On my Incredible, Google is the primary app and pushes my email to my phone where Yahoo and Hotmail can only go out at a specified interval and get email. The application suite around Google mail is also much more robust compared to the "regular" email interface I have to use to connect to other non-Google email accounts.

I forward my regular email to my Gmail account to get push notification. I find Gmail manages my email pretty well and I am happy with this set up.

4) How easy is it to customize the locked home screen to put one touch usable widgets? Is there only a subset you can choose from or can anything that is an app on the phone be put there?

Depends on the app. You can also install your own launcher. I use Nova Prime and it has many more features than TouchWiz.

ravenas · Oct 19, 2012

If all you want to do is add a customized Lock Screen, check out Widget Locker.

I've been using that app for a few phone generations now. It replaces your Lock Screen and is fully customizable with app shortcuts, widgets, customized slide-to-unlock controls, etc.

Nova Launcher replaces your Lock Screen, Home Screen and App Drawer. I've only played around with it a tiny bit. There's a freeware lite version you can try before you plunck down the money for the Prime version. This is what you'd use to make your phone look and feel like it's using HTC Sense.

I am NOT a fan of Sense. (I actually kinda hate it.) Touchwiz gives me all the little feature enhancements I want/need.

Like everyone has already told you, all your other questions are 100% doable. Before switching phones, you can grab that audio clip off your current phone and transfer it to your new one. Anything found in My Sound Files will be pulled up in your Settings menu and can be used for ringtones/notifications.

The main reason I love Google is I have all my contacts, calendar and e-mail backed up to their servers. Setting up a new phone takes about 5 minutes and is purely automatic. It happens as soon as I sign in with my Google account. I also have my phone set to auto-backup photos and video to the Cloud so I can access it whenever/wherever I want. Google makes it so drop dead simple.

Make sure you Favorite your regular contacts. When you do that (and add photos for each contact), your Samsung phone has an easy push button/ grid interface for Favorite contacts. Touch a face to call, text or e-mail.

Bearcats · Oct 20, 2012

ravenas said:
The main reason I love Google is I have all my contacts, calendar and e-mail backed up to their servers. Setting up a new phone takes about 5 minutes and is purely automatic. It happens as soon as I sign in with my Google account. I also have my phone set to auto-backup photos and video to the Cloud so I can access it whenever/wherever I want. Google makes it so drop dead simple.

This is especially pleasing to hear. All of my work stuff is via Google so this is a great point for me.

Now, just to hang off until Thanksgiving to actually get it. If any deals are to be had it should be around there.

Now to research that *ahem* "other" phone for my wife. She is a marketers dream...*groan*. :rolleyes:

ravenas · Oct 20, 2012

Bearcats said:
This is especially pleasing to hear. All of my work stuff is via Google so this is a great point for me.

Now, just to hang off until Thanksgiving to actually get it. If any deals are to be had it should be around there.

Now to research that *ahem* "other" phone for my wife. She is a marketers dream...*groan*.

You wouldn't believe how popular the Galaxy phones are until you actually get one. At the football game last week I pulled out my phone only to find everybody around me has the exact same model. Then we started trading photos and videos with S Beam. It was very cool.

As for your wife, there's hope for the Apple fans. My sister was jonesing for an iPhone all summer long until she got to spend a few minutes with my galaxy s2. Now she's a happy owner of the galaxy phone and can't wait for next year's model to come out. Her work also uses Google so it was a big selling point for her.

If you're waiting until Thanksgiving and size is not a big issue for you, you may want to look at the Galaxy Note 2 as an alternative. It's the same styling as the Galaxy S3 but bigger and has some extra features based on a stylus. It's also running Jellybean. Comes out next week. I love my Galaxy S3. It's definitely more pocketable. But I do like the extra features of the Note 2.

Bearcats · Oct 20, 2012

ravenas said:
You wouldn't believe how popular the Galaxy phones are until you actually get one. At the football game last week I pulled out my phone only to find everybody around me has the exact same model. Then we started trading photos and videos with S Beam. It was very cool.

As for your wife, there's hope for the Apple fans. My sister was jonesing for an iPhone all summer long until she got to spend a few minutes with my galaxy s2. Now she's a happy owner of the galaxy phone and can't wait for next year's model to come out. Her work also uses Google so it was a big selling point for her.

If you're waiting until Thanksgiving and size is not a big issue for you, you may want to look at the Galaxy Note 2 as an alternative. It's the same styling as the Galaxy S3 but bigger and has some extra features based on a stylus. It's also running Jellybean. Comes out next week. I love my Galaxy S3. It's definitely more pocketable. But I do like the extra features of the Note 2.

Here is the worst part. She is on Driod now, but she wants to go to the other because all her friends have it and she isn't overly interested in customization *shrug*.

Ill look at the Note (as I am waiting until Thanksgiving/Shoppers paradise) but the SG3 was getting big...only an in hand trial run would let me know if the Note was to big.

andy9l · Oct 20, 2012

Bearcats said:
Here is the worst part. She is on Driod now, but she wants to go to the other because all her friends have it and she isn't overly interested in customization *shrug*.

She sounds like the exact person I would suggest an iPhone to. There is no "better" phone. It's personal, and for someone with little interest in Android customisation, and with plenty of iDevice friends to enjoy iMessage/FaceTime with - it would be silly to force another Android device on her.

I've recently moved from 4 years of iPhones to the SGS3, I'm still recommending the iPhone 5 to my girlfriend though. She's no geek like me. To my more geeky friends, I would recommend the S3.

Just ask her to try to avoid getting too reliant on iCloud and other Apple services - I'm sure I don't need to tell you how much of a nightmare it is to escape, trust me.

clitrenta · Oct 20, 2012

ravenas said:
You wouldn't believe how popular the Galaxy phones are until you actually get one. At the football game last week I pulled out my phone only to find everybody around me has the exact same model. Then we started trading photos and videos with S Beam. It was very cool.

As for your wife, there's hope for the Apple fans. My sister was jonesing for an iPhone all summer long until she got to spend a few minutes with my galaxy s2. Now she's a happy owner of the galaxy phone and can't wait for next year's model to come out. Her work also uses Google so it was a big selling point for her.

If you're waiting until Thanksgiving and size is not a big issue for you, you may want to look at the Galaxy Note 2 as an alternative. It's the same styling as the Galaxy S3 but bigger and has some extra features based on a stylus. It's also running Jellybean. Comes out next week. I love my Galaxy S3. It's definitely more pocketable. But I do like the extra features of the Note 2.

Totally agree and if I didn't already have this great S3, that Note II would be mine. I dare say it will be anyway but it'll take me a while to be able to get it. Good things come to those that wait....

ravenas · Oct 20, 2012

Bearcats said:
Here is the worst part. She is on Driod now, but she wants to go to the other because all her friends have it and she isn't overly interested in customization *shrug*.

Ill look at the Note (as I am waiting until Thanksgiving/Shoppers paradise) but the SG3 was getting big...only an in hand trial run would let me know if the Note was to big.

She sounds a bit like my niece. She has her mom's old Droid but believes only her friends' iPhones have music stores. I enjoyed opening her eyes with a quick introduction to Amazon and Google's Play stores (remembering to mention Target sells gift cards to both now).

Apple's marketing has done wonders pulling the wool over people's eyes. Makes me said every time I hear a non-geek profess nonsense about how only an iPhone can do smartphone things.

I love the Samsung ad campaign because it does so much to show Android phones can be just as cool (and many times cooler) than iPhones. Honestly, the only adavantage I can see for iPhones these days are the number of case options on the market. We need more pink, sparkly bedazzled Hello Kitty creations for the top Android handsets, not just the boring industrial male-oriented Otter Boxes.

ravenas · Oct 20, 2012

clitrenta said:
Totally agree and if I didn't already have this great S3, that Note II would be mine. I dare say it will be anyway but it'll take me a while to be able to get it. Good things come to those that wait....

I'd get one too, if I could find an unlocked version that worked with T-Mobile. AFAIK Samsung isn't releasing International versions of their phones to support the 1700mhz spectrum T-Mo runs their HSPA+ network on. Only the GNex supported all frequencies.

vamartha · Oct 21, 2012

I came from and Incredible to an S3! I have to say that it was as big a difference as going from a Dare to the Incredible!

You will love this phone. It can be customized to do everything your Incredible does and so much more! You won't look back, I promise!

Bearcats · Oct 21, 2012

ravenas said:
Honestly, the only adavantage I can see for iPhones these days are the number of case options on the market. We need more pink, sparkly bedazzled Hello Kitty creations for the top Android handsets, not just the boring industrial male-oriented Otter Boxes.

That would not surprise me in the least. We have black otterboxes (Commuter) on our Incredibles and she always asks me if she can get something more feminine.

At this point it really doesn't bother me she wants one. Just I need to learn a new OS because she wont and Ill need to be able to support/fix it when she fiddles with it. The latter part bugs.

MicroNix · Oct 21, 2012

Bearcats said:
That would not surprise me in the least. We have black otterboxes (Commuter) on our Incredibles and she always asks me if she can get something more feminine.

At this point it really doesn't bother me she wants one. Just I need to learn a new OS because she wont and Ill need to be able to support/fix it when she fiddles with it. The latter part bugs.

Do yourself a favor though. Ask her to wait on the iPhone until after you've had your GS3 for a while. Show her that display and things like CarHome Ultra if you purchase a dock for the car. Doing more that what Apple permits goes beyond customization. It is what the apps are allowed to do with the phone that you just can't get on iDevices.

I personally find the GS3 to be an awesome phone. In fact, at a football game yesterday, it was either iPhones or GS3s. Funnier than heck to have someone's GS3 ringing with the stock ringtone and then a dozen people reaching for their phones! Guys and gals alike BTW. You see these nice big bold displays and then the iPhone users who now have an extra row of icons on their screens

daveydog · Oct 21, 2012

How's the radio in Verizon's version... Is it holding calls?

ravenas · Oct 21, 2012

Bearcats said:
That would not surprise me in the least. We have black otterboxes (Commuter) on our Incredibles and she always asks me if she can get something more feminine.

At this point it really doesn't bother me she wants one. Just I need to learn a new OS because she wont and Ill need to be able to support/fix it when she fiddles with it. The latter part bugs.

Being as I'm of the female persuasion, I appreciate a little color and bling with my accessories. Fortunately you can find plenty of that on Amazon. I picked up a set of Cruzerlite TPU cases so I can alternate my color choices with my mood. You may want to introduce your wife to a little accessories shopping.

As for the OS support, just refuse to help. After all, iPhones "just work" don't they?

When my sis was deadset for getting an iPhone I wished her well and promised I'd help.. by directing her to the nearest Apple Genius Bar.

Seriously, the thing that sold her on an Android was Swype. She loved it. Then I told her she couldn't have that on iPhone. Apple will let her have only the one kind of push-to-type keyboard.

Maybe you need to find out what your wife has gotten used to doing with her phone and see if those things translate to iOS. You'd be surprised what doesn't.

Caloy · Oct 21, 2012

I'm also close to buying a GS3, but there are a few things holding me back, 1) I'm still waiting for it to get Jellybean, if not I'm going with either the Note 2 or the next Nexus Phone.

Anyone knows when will the carriers roll out 4.1 (or above) to the GS3? If note or the Next Nexus phone comes out, I'm afraid I'll be going for these phones instead.

dportal2006 · Oct 21, 2012

Caloy said:
I'm also close to buying a GS3, but there are a few things holding me back, 1) I'm still waiting for it to get Jellybean, if not I'm going with either the Note 2 or the next Nexus Phone.

Anyone knows when will the carriers roll out 4.1 (or above) to the GS3? If note or the Next Nexus phone comes out, I'm afraid I'll be going for these phones instead.

Samsung already confirmed there is going to be an update before the end of the year for the Samsung Galaxy S3.

clitrenta · Oct 22, 2012

ravenas said:
I'd get one too, if I could find an unlocked version that worked with T-Mobile. AFAIK Samsung isn't releasing International versions of their phones to support the 1700mhz spectrum T-Mo runs their HSPA+ network on. Only the GNex supported all frequencies.

I'm glad I got away from T-Mobile. I liked their CS just fine but despite their profession of total coverage in the city where I live, it was, in actuallity more like swiss cheese. Just got tired of paying for that. AT&T was pretty good except that between about noon and 4:00, data slowed to a crawl. Now I'm on US Cellular which has neither of those problems but my data coverage in my office is next to nothing

Everywhere else it's just fine. Just can't win but USCC has to many other percs to leave it so I'm here for the long haul. Besides, it's only really a problem right in my office. Most every other place in the bldg I'm good. At least I still gets text msgs and calls :rolleyes:

Help Close to purchasing a GSIII, but some concerns

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